McGwire and Paulsen lead the Rafters to their first win at Witter Field.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – It’s Max McGwire’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
Just mere hours after he arrived in Wisconsin Rapids, McGwire launched a third-inning grand slam and tacked on a triple to lead the Rafters to a 7-6 win over the Waterloo Bucks.
The fun started in that third inning, when Nomar Basurto ripped an RBI single with the bases loaded to score leadoff man Miles Vandenhuevel. Then, after a Tyler McClanahan strikeout, McGwire broke the game wide open.
“It feels great being out here on the field again,” said McGwire. “[The fans are] loud, they’re into every pitch and they’re making me feel great at the plate.”
The Bucks consistently chipped away at the Rafters 5-0 lead, bringing the score to 5-4 after the top of the sixth with some clutch RBI knocks from Marcus Heusohn and Evan Morrison. But Wisconsin Rapids would add some key insurance in the bottom of the inning with a Bryson Stripling single after McGwire’s triple and an RBI hit by Vandenheuvel.
Waterloo kept it close over the next two innings, driving in one apiece in the seventh and eighth to make the score 7-6 entering the top of the ninth.
Rafters reliever Max Whitesell was brought in to slam the door in the ninth, and he did exactly that, striking out two en route to his second save of the year.
One key story of the ballgame was the performance of Rafters starting pitcher Nick Paulsen, who spun four scoreless innings and struck out six. He also walked none, a refreshing departure from the first two games of the season where the pitching staff walked 21 total.
“I know it’s important for Nick, he’s a hometown guy and he wants to do well in front of this crowd, in front of his fans and his people,” Rafters field manager Kirk Shrider said after the game. “It’s always fun to win in front of a crowd, it’s always fun to win at Witter Field,”
With the win, Wisconsin Rapids improved to 2-1 on the young season, and will continue their two-game set against the Bucks tomorrow night at Witter Field with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35. Khalin Kapoor will have the call on the Northwoods League plus app, and Andy Jachim will be on WFHR – 97.5 FM, 1320 AM.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 245 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
